Tema (Greater Accra) 28 Oct. '98 Officers of the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) at Tema port has expressed concern over alleged arbitrary arrest, detention and interdiction of customs officers for genuine mistakes made on the job. They said at the moment eight officers have been interdicted or dismissed for "pardonable mistakes which occurred out of the complexity of their job" adding that one of them has died from shock. Mr Alex Owusu Ansah, and Mr Seidu Iddrisu, both senior customs officers, made the complaint when the parliamentary select committee on finance, chaired by Commodore Steve Obimpeh paid a visit to the CEPS collection point at Tema. The committee was accompanied by four members of the board of directors of CEPS and the commissioner of CEPS, Dr Charles Asembri. Mr Seidu said some of the Customs officers are not only detained and brutalised but they also have their hair shaved and, in some cases, they are detained for seven days in violation of their constitutional rights. Mr Seidu said this is happening because of interference in their job by security men of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority who have constituted themselves into task forces at the harbour gate where they re-examine goods cleared by CEPS even though they have no knowledge in customs procedures. Mr Owusu Ansah said there is the wrong impression that customs officers are thieves so when they even take loans to buy cars people think that they stole the money. He said to facilitate clearance of goods from the port, CEPS has embarked on selective sampling instead of 100 per cent examination of goods but this is misinterpreted by GPHA security who detain goods for sometimes a week. Mr Owusu Ansah said the dismissals are demoralising, adding "the officers will be vindicated one day so long as democracy continues to thrive in Ghana." The Customs officers also complained about lack of computers for their job which causes delays in clearance of goods. Currently there are 13 computers working in the long room with four computers to one printer. Mr Sultan Malm, Deputy Commissioner of CEPS for preventive, said his office has recommended the re-instatement of the eight customs officers because investigations have exonerated them. Commodore Obimpeh, in reaction to the officers complaints, commended them for the good work being done at the Tema port and said the committee has noticed frustrations and low morale among them. He said even though parliament has no executive but legislative powers, the committee members would put their heads together to see how best to improve their working conditions. Commodore Obimpeh said there was the need to improve the working environment of the Customs officers and provide them with more working tools. He said as a revenue collection institution, Customs officers need to be motivated to reduce the temptation of corruption. Dr Asembri on his part said issues pertaining to the conditions of service of customs officers had delayed because of the appointment of a new board of directors. He said the service had a condition of service which is subject to review, adding that when the board meets it will also look at basic issues like delays in promotions.
Tema (Greater Accra) 28 Oct. '98 Officers of the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) at Tema port has expressed concern over alleged arbitrary arrest, detention and interdiction of customs officers for genuine mistakes made on the job. They said at the moment eight officers have been interdicted or dismissed for "pardonable mistakes which occurred out of the complexity of their job" adding that one of them has died from shock. Mr Alex Owusu Ansah, and Mr Seidu Iddrisu, both senior customs officers, made the complaint when the parliamentary select committee on finance, chaired by Commodore Steve Obimpeh paid a visit to the CEPS collection point at Tema. The committee was accompanied by four members of the board of directors of CEPS and the commissioner of CEPS, Dr Charles Asembri. Mr Seidu said some of the Customs officers are not only detained and brutalised but they also have their hair shaved and, in some cases, they are detained for seven days in violation of their constitutional rights. Mr Seidu said this is happening because of interference in their job by security men of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority who have constituted themselves into task forces at the harbour gate where they re-examine goods cleared by CEPS even though they have no knowledge in customs procedures. Mr Owusu Ansah said there is the wrong impression that customs officers are thieves so when they even take loans to buy cars people think that they stole the money. He said to facilitate clearance of goods from the port, CEPS has embarked on selective sampling instead of 100 per cent examination of goods but this is misinterpreted by GPHA security who detain goods for sometimes a week. Mr Owusu Ansah said the dismissals are demoralising, adding "the officers will be vindicated one day so long as democracy continues to thrive in Ghana." The Customs officers also complained about lack of computers for their job which causes delays in clearance of goods. Currently there are 13 computers working in the long room with four computers to one printer. Mr Sultan Malm, Deputy Commissioner of CEPS for preventive, said his office has recommended the re-instatement of the eight customs officers because investigations have exonerated them. Commodore Obimpeh, in reaction to the officers complaints, commended them for the good work being done at the Tema port and said the committee has noticed frustrations and low morale among them. He said even though parliament has no executive but legislative powers, the committee members would put their heads together to see how best to improve their working conditions. Commodore Obimpeh said there was the need to improve the working environment of the Customs officers and provide them with more working tools. He said as a revenue collection institution, Customs officers need to be motivated to reduce the temptation of corruption. Dr Asembri on his part said issues pertaining to the conditions of service of customs officers had delayed because of the appointment of a new board of directors. He said the service had a condition of service which is subject to review, adding that when the board meets it will also look at basic issues like delays in promotions.
